Rare Beatles album sells for $175,000

Friday, January 17, 2014

It's been called the greatest album of all time, but you won't find it on iTunes. At least, you won't find the first-issue mono pressing of the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band gatefold LP on the U.K. Parlophone label.

A rare autographed copy sold at an auction Wednesday for $175,698, according to RR Auction of New Hampshire. John, Paul, George and Ringo all signed the cover for a young porter working at the Atlantic Hotel in Newquay, England, where the band stayed in September 1967. According to a letter accompanying the record, employees at the hotel were warned not to bother the band, but the enterprising young lad "sneaked the album back into work up my top, as I didn't want the manager to see." The album comes with a letter of authenticity from Beatles expert Frank Caiazzo, who says a copy of Sgt. Pepper signed by all of the Fab Four is like the "holy grail" of rock memorabilia.